Torah Reading: Balak

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The Big Countdown

by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

Why Jews count UP, not down.

Published: April 11, 2010

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Visitor Comments: 10

(10) Paysach Krohn, April 25, 2010 12:28 PM

clever thought

nice original thought. Keep it up, you INSPIRE us all

(9) brian, April 15, 2010 6:31 PM

Brian again-Rav Pincus's answer

Rav Pincus's answer is much better. Rav Pincus says we are building ourselves, step by step, rung by rung, hence we count up.

(8) Anonymous, April 15, 2010 1:22 PM

MAZEL TOV!!!!

Mazel Tov to your son and his soon-to-be bride! May they be soulmates and have a long, happy, healthy, and fulfilling marriage, and bring many holy and pious Jews into the world!

(7) miriam, April 15, 2010 12:21 PM

on the mark!

we made a wedding and I pushed things off. and when I count sefiras haomer I feel like I wanted to change (and lose weight) over these 7 weeks and I already lost 2 weeks. so I definitely agree that counting up is the right way. Mazel Tov on your wedding.

(6) Anonymous, April 15, 2010 3:57 AM

Answer to "brain"

To answer your Q: What he's saying is that counting up reminds you how many days have passed since the beginning of Sefira. Ex: "Wow! its already been 14 days-- and how much have I accomplished?" VS. "Oh- 14 days remaining- I got time..."

(5) sara, April 15, 2010 12:54 AM

Mazal Tov! And great artical

(4) ruth, April 14, 2010 8:45 PM

Counter - Intuitive

Hi, I am punning, because I am a counter-intuitive, meaning I don't think it really matters which way you count, as long as you make every single day count. And how do we do that? We live as if we just got the Torah. Now sure, it's fabulous to celebrate Shavuos and to prepare a great celebration, but the heart of the matter, is truly a daily event. And some might say a dei ly event, because surely deus, and dei, and the word day itself, is an echo of Divinity itself. Cheers and Mazel Tov to your son, his wife, and to your family!

(3) mordi, April 13, 2010 7:19 PM

counting

From your perspective your son and bride to be should be counting up to the great day. They should be busy refining themselves. i suggest you ask them to watch your tape and decide whether to keep counting down, or to make a shared commitment to count up, like the omer. In their case it has nothing to do with procrastination, but something to do with refinement, an opportune time to prepare together, even though individually. Something to think about.

(2) brian, April 13, 2010 5:40 PM

Answer?

How does your point answer the question? If you're a procrastinator, why will counting up help? Counting down would the same effect, in fact, a more powerful effect, only 30 days left until Shavuos, etc., etc.

(1) Anonymous, April 12, 2010 12:42 PM

I am intuitive - NOT a procrastinator (very much)

I try to get my priorities completed/accomplished as soon as I can so that there are fewer things I'm obligated to do later, such as filing my tax return. I'm also pretty good with money in the long term since I have an IRA savings account, where I can easily count up how much money I am saving upon retiring in 3-4 decades from now. ...As for counting down to weddings, while I am willing to marry a Jew, I'm just worried if not too many Jewish woman are that in to me after I've tried 3 months of JDate, as well as other social settings. I tend to worry about whether or not I'll have a compatible enough bashert for me or if she even exists. But, hopefully, I have just about all the time I need to find her, assuming she's out there for me. Since love and marriage is a 2-way street, that may be what's making it so difficult for me to find her, as well as the fact that I have Asperger's. Therefore, it is difficult for me to correlate activities with others since I am often solo when I go out (or in). So, does anyone have advice on how I could go about counting down or up to my shidduch? I just feel I am not getting very much help finding her with my family, friends, and Jewish institutions.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.